Claremont School of Theology

What Claremont School of Theology does

Claremont School of Theology (CST) is a private, non-profit graduate theological school founded in 1885 in San Fernando, California, and currently operating as one of 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church. The institution offers nine degree programs spanning master's-level credentials (MDiv at 72 credits; MA in Religion and MTS at 48 credits each; MAMLS at 37 credits) and doctoral degrees (DMin, two PhD tracks in Practical Theology and Religion, Doctor of Professional Counseling, and Doctor of Spirituality), delivered through three learning modalities: LA Area-Residency (weekly in-person classes), Low-Residency Hybrid (online plus on-campus intensives), and fully online Distance Education. Programs are supported by an integrated technology stack comprising Populi (student information system and LMS), Digital Theological Library via Ex Libris Primo, Zoom for synchronous hyflex classrooms, Panopto for recorded lectures, and Formstack for administrative forms.

The institution generates revenue through tuition and fees across its degree portfolio plus donations and fundraising — most notably the Bridge to the Future Campaign, which has secured two $1 million gifts from the Quilter and Lee families in 2026, alongside a $2.18M Korean Endowment Fund and a $611K Korean Leadership Scholarship pool. CST recruits students through direct admissions, denominational partnerships with the UMC California-Pacific Annual Conference, and international partnerships with Korean universities (including a board-chair connection at Seoul Theological University). The student body represents 50+ faith traditions, with particularly strong Korean and international (F-1/J-1 visa) cohorts served by a dedicated International Student Services office. Four wholly-owned research centers (Center for Process Studies, Center for Engaged Compassion, Center for Sexuality Gender and Religion, and Process and Faith) underpin academic differentiation in process theology, contemplative practice, sexuality and religion, and interfaith engagement.

In 2023-2024, CST sold its Claremont campus — the result of litigation over a restrictive 1957 property agreement with the Claremont Colleges — and relocated to Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, transitioning to a hybrid/online-intensive operating model that reduced debt and expanded geographic reach. Leadership transitioned to a Co-Presidency in 2025 (Grant Hagiya and Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan). The school maintains between 101 and 250 employees and reports steady enrollment growth at a time when comparable seminaries are contracting.

Name

Claremont School of Theology

Legal name

Claremont School of Theology

Website

https://cst.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Claremont School of Theology is a United Methodist-affiliated graduate theological seminary offering master's and doctoral degrees in ministry, religion, and counseling via hybrid and online modalities, serving a multi-faith student body with particularly strong international enrollment from Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Seminary Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Religious leadership training
• Interfaith theological studies
• Ordained ministry preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Claremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Graduate theological education programs charged at tuition rates. Includes MDiv (72 credits), MA/MTS (48 credits), DMin, PhD, DPC, SpD, and MAMLS programs. International students pay confirmation deposit of $200.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The Bridge to the Future Campaign has received major gifts including $1 million from Ann and Charles Quilter and $1 million leadership gift from Kyungsig Samuel Lee and Yonghwa Kim Lee. Korean Endowment Fund (KEF) at $2,181,654 supports Korean students.
3. Korean Leadership Scholarship Fund: KLS raised $611,084 specifically for Korean MDiv students. Annual interest from endowment funds (4-5% of $2,181,654 KEF) distributed as scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Claremont School of Theology is a private, non-profit theological seminary that confers graduate theological degrees preparing students for ordination, chaplaincy, counseling, teaching, and academic ministry careers. The institution offers eight graduate degree programs (MDiv, MA, MTS, MAMLS, DMin, PhD, DPC, SpD) delivered through online, hybrid, and in-person modalities at its Los Angeles campus. The seminary supports its academic mission through dedicated research institutes (the Center for Process Studies, the Center for Engaged Compassion, and the Center for Sexuality, Gender and Religion) and international scholarship programs such as the Korean Leadership Scholarship.

Product overview

Claremont School of Theology (CST) is a United Methodist seminary offering a comprehensive suite of graduate theological education programs delivered through hybrid, online, and in-person intensive modalities. The institution provides nine distinct degree programs spanning master's (MDiv, MA in Religion, MTS, MAMLS), doctoral (DMin, PhD in Practical Theology, PhD in Religion, DPC, SpD), and non-degree educational offerings. These programs are supported by four specialized research centers (Center for Process Studies, Center for Engaged Compassion, Center for Sexuality Gender and Religion, and Process and Faith), comprehensive student services (Digital Theological Library, writing support, accessibility services, international student support), and flexible delivery through the Populi learning management system. CST also partners with Bayan Islamic Graduate School for Islamic studies programs and offers specialized Korean-context doctoral programs delivered in South Korea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) Graduate professional degree preparing students for ordination, pastoral ministry, and related religious vocations; typically the standard credential for ordained ministry in many Christian denominations.
• Master of Arts (MA) Graduate academic degree providing specialized theological study at the master's level for students preparing for further graduate work, teaching, or specialized ministry roles.
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS) Graduate academic degree providing foundational theological study for students preparing for doctoral-level research, teaching, or general theological formation outside the ordination track.
• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Life Studies (MAMLS) Specialized graduate degree in marriage and family life studies for students preparing for counseling, family ministry, or related relational and pastoral vocations.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Doctoral professional degree for experienced ministry practitioners seeking advanced formation in leadership, preaching, pastoral care, or related ministerial practice.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Doctoral research degree preparing scholars for academic teaching, advanced theological research, and scholarship in religious and theological disciplines.
• Diploma in Professional Chaplaincy (DPC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Growing enrollment while other seminaries are shrinking
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• California-Pacific Annual Conference (Cal-Pac) of The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Established the Rev. M. Guadalupe 'Lupita' Alonso-Redondo Scholarship Initiative to prepare, equip, and support the next generation of Latine/Hispanic ministry leaders serving Southern California.
• Bayan (Bayan Islamic Graduate School)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Renewed academic partnership with Bayan, a California non-profit religious corporation operating an educational program known as 'Bayan Islamic Graduate School.' This collaboration supports the development and delivery of programs in Islamic Studies under CST's academic authority and accreditation, marking a significant step forward in interreligious theological education.
• Korean UniversitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnerships with several Korean universities. Doctoral programs and leadership in Korea continue to expand, creating international alumni networks of faith leaders.
• Seoul Theological UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard chair connection; Dr. Woonjoo Baek serves as board chair at Seoul Theological University
• Cross-Registration Partner SchoolsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCross-registration partnerships with Hispanic Scholars Program, MTSO (Methodist Theological School in Ohio), and University of the West, allowing students to access courses at partner institutions.
• Westwood United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2023, CST relocated its campus to Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, aligning with its mission and providing offices and classrooms at the new location.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Iliff School of Theology: United Methodist seminary in Denver offering MDiv, MA, MTS, DMin, and PhD programs with a progressive/progressive-progressive theological orientation—directly comparable to CST in denomination, academic structure, and ideological positioning.
• Boston University School of Theology: One of the 13 official United Methodist seminaries and the oldest Methodist seminary in the world. Comparable to CST in UMC affiliation, graduate theological degree offerings, and research-center model.
• Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary: United Methodist seminary affiliated with Northwestern University offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs. Directly comparable to CST in denomination, degree mix, and progressive theological identity.
• Wesley Theological Seminary: United Methodist seminary in Washington, D.C. offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs with a focus on urban and intercultural ministry—comparable to CST's progressive, justice-centered UMC identity and graduate degree portfolio.
• Duke Divinity School: United Methodist-affiliated graduate theological school at Duke University offering MDiv, MTS, MTh, DMin, and ThD programs. Comparable to CST in UMC affiliation and graduate theological degree offerings, though significantly larger in resources and endowment.
• Pacific School of Religion: Multi-denominational progressive Protestant seminary in Berkeley offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs. Comparable to CST in progressive interreligious orientation, graduate degree structure, and progressive social justice identity.
• Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO): United Methodist seminary in Ohio offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs; CST has a cross-registration partnership with MTSO. Directly comparable in UMC affiliation and degree offerings.
• Candler School of Theology (Emory): United Methodist seminary at Emory University offering MDiv, MTS, ThM, DMin, and PhD programs. Comparable to CST in UMC affiliation and graduate theological degree portfolio, though attached to a major research university.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large multi-denominational evangelical seminary offering MDiv, MA, DMin, PhD, and PsyD programs across three schools. Broader and more evangelical in orientation than CST, but overlapping in graduate theological education market.

Emerging players

• Bayan Islamic Graduate School: California-based Islamic graduate theological program that renewed an academic partnership with CST in 2026 to deliver Islamic Studies under CST's accreditation. Comparable as a peer in graduate-level religious education and CST's explicit interreligious partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/59010283611
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/claremont-school-of-theology
• Instagraminstagram.com/cst_news
• Xx.com/CST_News

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Claremont School of Theology